Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-12-22

p1O1CC4S-
December came at last The SHOWS were
unusually deep and spread over the ground
to depth Of FIVE feet Overhead the brush
tops Of the forest were likewise covered
with an acreage Of snow almost as deep and
certainly as vast The river was frozen so
solidly that with difficulty water was Sc
cured for the little handful Of stock and the
family The corn and potatoes were almost
gone and could not last, with the most
frugal economy. beyond the end Of the year
The weather had a constant zero temper
AZURE, and al night the cold was doubly in
tense Almos: daily wild northern storms
swept down through the forest and seemed
intent on filing the open space TO the level
Of the tree tops. The snow came from the
far Arctic regions and its contemporaries,
the snow bua.ings, red polls, cross-biIls.
pine inches and long spurs came as part
Of the Billiards. durrying like snow fakes
and driven from the polar regions for food
by the intense severity OF the weather. The
little mill. wheels in the distance had long
since ceased 10 grind for want of water, and
the sparse inhabitants had TO pound into
coarse meal what little corn they had re-
NAMING.
Beaux no longer came to the feet Of Mary:
some climates are too severe for even the
rosiest glamour Of hear1-bursting love.
Game had ceased 10 approach the clearing,
warned away by the rife Of the log cab
in and the SHOWS we're too deep for the
hardy pioneer to enter the chase. even
though the family starved It home. In
the cabin Of the Smiths only mother
and Mary were brave. Marys are always
brave. fearless and hopeful. Show me
girl Of that name and l viii pin this state
ment On her shoulder and defy you TO take 1t
of. Mary Smith felt the poverty Of the
family circumstances. while the men
seemed obllTious TO the near starvation OF
the family. She saw it months before. and
often left her food untouched that six por-
tons might do for seven. When the family
almost fought for the nearest place to the
fire. she remained in the outskirts Of the
circle and gave II her part Of the warmth.
Andrew jackson might have divided his
acorns with his soldiers, but she gave all
her potatoes to her brothers. ! despise
your narrow-brained, narrow-hearted so
ciety girl. who takes every thing and re-
turns nothing. who lives in the deluge Of
horses, vehicles, flowers, amusements, din
ners and gifts Of her admirers, returning
only the barrenness Of her smiles. her Ca
prices, her tyranny. her empty thanks, and,
at last, throws her wrecked system On some
poor. deluded man. whom she either drives
to suicide or divorce. Give to me the girl
with her big heart, her big aUiability, her
big reciprocal capacity and her big sympa-
thetic nature. who can not only receive
every thing, but give every thing. care
not whether she comes from castle or howell
in chariot or on foot, with jewels in pro
fusion or rags in plenty, SO that her nature
is broad. | can love her without beauty
and with breadth. but never with beauty
and seltishness. Oh. Mary Smith! When
Christmas came the potatoes had disap-
peared, the corn was all consumed. the last
slice of bacon no more-there was nothing
to eat The SHOWS beat down Gercely and
the North wind threatened the destruction
of the cabin, and the river was frozen solid.
and the game seemed buried in the SHOWS
of the forest and the neighbors were starry
ing in the distant novels
What did she do. Did she moan like the
men, or whine in anguish at the pangs Of
hunger, or curse the wilderness for It's bar
renness! No, not she. Still reigned the
sweetness Of her eyes as she smiled, and
tears of sympathy would come stealing
down her cheek when her little brother. the
baby. threw his arms about her neck and
begged piteously for bread. 1t was with
calmness that she spoke when the family
sank down TO die in despair: Fear not;
our Father who feeds the buntings on the
seeds Of the wild weeds that are made TO
lift their heads above the SHOWS to furnish
them with food will this day give US bread
1t was still early in the forenoon of that
terrible day. The storm was most furious.
Tho {Sr.aS mi lnxx- i,,s no cabin
made a move 10 replenish it. A report like
that of gun was heard seemingly in the
distance. but failed to arouse the little
group. The next instant all was commotion
and terror. The door burst open and stag
of great size partially fell through and lay
dead on TIE floor. The family stood around
in amazeInent al this remarkable event.
while the bitter cold wind swept in and
snowaakes shot between the long antlers
of the stag and struck the faces Of the
Smiths. Mary spoke first:
This is our Christmas dinner boys. You
must skin the noble animal while he Is
warm and viii soon have the fire roaring
for his reception
But whence came the buc K. child" said
the father sternly.
THAT is more than we kn ow. thought
heard a shot. bu. if so, where IS the marks
man TO claim his booty!''
Il too heard ! shot, and if the hunter does
not appear before the animal is dressed we
must know the reason why
In a few moments, eager hands had re-
moved the skin sufficiently to secure the
choice portions Of the meat Meanwhile
Mary kept thinking about the shot she
seemed TO have heard. She went to the
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